Well cementing apparatus



March 15, 1960 R. c. BAKER 3,928,470

WELL CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 3. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 7 & 1a

13- aim 1N Vt NTOR.

fizz/am 61 34422 n MM March 15, 1960 R. c. BAKER 2,928,470

WELL CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 3. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

fizz/50v C. 84422 March 15, 1960 R. c. BAKER 2,928,470

WELL CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed D60. 3, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H6. .5. 222.6:

v 4.9 I I 63 54 45 J0 INVENTOR. fizz/54w 6'. 34,652

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n ted States Patent i4 WELL CEMENTENG APPARATUS Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of. Caliv fornia Application December 3, 1956, Serial No. 625,984

7 Claims. (Cl. 166-154) The present invention relates to subsurface well bore equipment, and more particularly to apparatus especially useful in cementing well casing, liners, and similar conduit strings, in well bores.

An object of the present invention is to provide well cementing apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or similar conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, and embodying a plurality of shiftable internal sleeve valves for opening and closing one or more'side ports in the apparatus, in which the sleeve valves are shiftable by devices extending inwardly of the casing which can be readily drilled out after cementing operation has been completed without requiring the drill bitto ope'r'ate upon the sleeve valves themselves, and thereby potentially disturb the positions to which they have been shifted relative to the one or more side ports.

Another object of the invention is to provide well cementing apparatus of the character indicated, in which fiuid leakage around the sleeve valves is prevented by sealing devices that are protected during the cementing operation, so as to remain in proper condition for efficient sealing against one of the sleeve valves to completely close the one or more side ports.

A further object of the invention is to provide well cementing apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or similar conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, and embodying a plurality of shiftable internal sleeve valves for opening and closing one or more side parts in the apparatus, one or more of the sleeve valves being held initially in predetermined positions by shear devicesthat do not require the use of holes through the apparatus, thereby avoiding potential paths of fluid leakage between the interior and exterior of the apparatus.

An additional object of the invention is to provide well cementing apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or similar conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, and embodying lower and upper shiftable internal sleeve valves for initially and finally closing side ports.

in the apparatus, in which improved means are provided for retaining the upper sleeve valve in a closed position across the side ports.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide well cementing apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or similar conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, and embodying lower and upper shiftable internal sleeve valves for initially and finally closing the side ports in the apparatus, the lower and upper sleeve valvesbeing shiftable by lower and upper plug devices, respectively, the upper plug and upper sleeve valve being shiftable to port closing position without the necessity for compressing fiuid in the apparatus between them and the lower sleeve valve and lower plug device.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide well cementing apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or similar conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, and embodying lower and upper shiftable internal sleeve valves for initially and finally closing the side ice ports in the apparatus, the lower and upper sleeve valves being shiftable by lower and upper plug devices, respectively, the plug devices fitting within the sleeve valves in a manner to minimize the possibility of leakage therebetween.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This .form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inven tion; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a combined side elevational and longi tudinal section through a ported apparatus, with the ports initially closed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus of Fig. 1, with the ports open;

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the parts in a position preparatory to final reclosingof the ports;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 1, :with the ports -fully reclosed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged quarter section of the major portion of the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 6-'-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 ,is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 4.

, The embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings is essentially a collar A adapted to connect upper and lower casing sections B, C of a casing string,

in spaced relation, the casing string normally extending to the top of a well bore. a substantial distance below the collar and may have a shoe (not shown), or the like, at its lower end through which cement slurry, or other cementitious material, is

t ohbe forced for upward passage around the lower portion of the casing string toward the collar A itself. The" collar is initially closed, beingopened when desired to permit subsequent ejection of cementitious material, such as cement slurry, laterally outward for upward passage around the casing string, whereupon the collar is're-' closed and retained in such closed position. After the cement ejected through the collar A has set and hardened, the portions of the apparatus lying inwardly ofthe internal circumference of thecasing string are drilled out, to leave an unobstructed apparatus itself.

As specifically disclosed in the drawings, the collar passage through the'collar includes an outer tubular member 10 having a lower threaded box 11 threadedly receiving the upper pinend' 12 of the lower casing section C. The upper portion 13 of the tubular member is threaded to threadedly receive an adapter nut 14 having an internal thread 15 receiving the lower pin 16 of the upper casing section B.. In

advertent loosening of the adapter nut 14 from the tu-' bular member 10 may be prevented by integrating these parts, as by use of welding material 17. In addition,

The tubular member has one or a plurality of circum The casing string may extend assel-aw ferentially spaced side ports 21 through its wall through .vl'lich flu idmay pass when such side ports are in an opened condition; Initially, the side ports are closed by a lower internal sleeve valve 22 having-a cylindrical periphery 2 3, the sleeve valve extending across the side ports and being in sealingengagein'ent with an upper seal ririg24 disposed in an internal groove 25 in the tubular member above the ports 21. The lower portion of the with a lower'seal ring 26 disposed in a lower, internal groove 27 in the tubular memberl ill, preferably closely 'adjacentthe side ports 21. Thelower sleeve is retained initially in' closed position across thesidelports 21, and

1owerslee ve22 is also ,in slidable sealing engagement" 7 than the shearing pressure of the shear ring 28 initially holding the 'lower'slee've" valve 22 across the ports 21'.

Such higher shear pressure is preferred, although it is above the lower sleeve valve 22 when the latter isin is prevented from moving downwardly relative to the.

tubular member -10, by a split shear ring 28 which inlierently tends to contract, and which is disposed 'e i-thin a lower peripheral recess 29 in the lower sleeve valve,

the inner surface 30 of the split' ring preferably being serrated or roughened to grip the companion external surface of the lower sleeve valve. The inner portion 28a I closed position across :the side ports 21 intact, the

lower end or the upper sleeve valve 45 can contact the upper end of the lower sleeve valve: 22. When this oc-;

Cure, the periphery of the upper sleeve valve45 is in sealing engagement with a seal ring 46, such as a rubber or of the split shear ring, when mounted on the sleeve valve 22, has an external diameter no greater than the internal diameter'of the tubularmember 10, andsuch inner portion is integral with a relatively thin outer portion 28b extending within an internal groove 31 in the tubular member, the outer portion 23b initially bearing upon the? lower side 32' of such groove.

As explained hereinbelow, the engagement of the rela-' tivelythin, outer portion 28bof the shear ring, which may be made of cast iron, with the lower side 320f the downwardly along. the tubular member to a port opening positiont' The shearing of the outer portion '28?) from, the inner portion 28a permits the lower sleeve valve 22 to shift downwardly to aportfopening position. .Suc h foree' is imposed on the lower sleevevalve22.

For the purpose of shifting the slower sleeve valve22 downwardly, a lower shifting sleeve 33 is disposed there;

.within. The periphery of this shifting sleeveconformsj to the internal diameter of the lower sleeve valve-22g the" shifting sleeve being adapted to move the lower sleeve rubber like 0 ring, disposed in an internal groove 47 inthe tubularmember I0. 7 i i Ihe upper portion ofthe sleeve valve 45 has an @lOD: gate peripheral groove 48 therein, in which a split ratchet ring 49 is disposed. This ratchet ring hascircumferential ratchet teeth 50 thereon facing in an upward direction, such teeth initiallylenga ging the smooth cylindriealwall of the tubular member when the upper sleeve valve is in its upper position, such as disclosed in Figs; 1- and 5. Such teeth 501 are adapted to coact with internall circumferential ratchet teeth 51 facing in a groove prevents, the lower sleeve valve 22 from shifting shearing will occur when a predetermined;downward valve 22 downwardly by virtue of a :split cast iron. tie" ring'34, mounted in an upper peripheral groove 35 in the shifting sleeve; engaging an upwardly facing shoulder 3 6 in the lower sleeve valvedefining the lower end of an upper counterbore 37 in the latter. Thelowe'rjshiftin'g" sleeve hasa eentral1passage38 therethrough, the "inner surface 39 of. the shifting sleeve being cylindrical from itsupper' end-to a -regionadjacent its" lowerend. Neatits lower portion the shifting sleeve has 'aninwardly di'-* rested flange ltl defininganupwardlyfacing shoulder '41 adapted to be e'ngaged bya lower'plug 42, which is tofl close the'pas'sage 38' through the shifting sleeve. When suchplug 42 is disposed-within the lower shifting sleeve 33. in engagement with its shoulder or flange 41, the pres-- sure of 'thefiuidin the casing may be'increased to an extent sufficient to shear the inner portion 28a of the shear rin'g28 from its outer portion 28b, the plug 42; lower shitting sleeve 33, and-lower sleeve valve 22 then being moveddownwardly, to open the side ports21,the extent of downwardmovement being at first limited by engagement of the lower sleeve valve with a split stop land shear ring. 431 disposed within an internalgroove 441ml the tubular'member 10; Such stop ring is located in": aposition to arrest the lower sleeve valve: 2?, with its upper end disposed below'thesideports 21 but with the sleeve downward direction within the tubular member and he low its cylindrical portion 20, when the upper sleeve valve 45 shifted downwardly to port" closing position,

nae-sense her atter, the ratchet ring 49 preventing return upward-movement or the upper sleeve v'a1ve4s r m; the downw rd e'sitien to which 'itlias ti'een shifted; ratchet ring -t9 haslongitudinally spaced cam surfaces 52 tapering in an upwardand inward-direction eoaeting with eompanioh cam surfaces 53 on the' upper sleeve valve45; so'thatthetendency of the upper sleeve valve 45' toshittjupwardly relative tothe ratchet ring 49 forces the latteroutwardly to hold its teeth 50 firmly meshed with the companionratchet teeth 51 "of the tubular member. l-Ioweve'r, the sleevevalve 45 can move downwardly, carrying the ratchet s'leeve'49 alongwith it,

theflatterratchetingfreely over the internal'ratchetteeth ofthetubular'member, in the manner described hereacross the upper endof the upper sleeve: valve, 4:5, to provide a downwardly facin'gf shoulder 56fe'ngaging the ,upperend of the upper sleeve valve. Downward shift-t ingfor thes'hi fting sleeve S ljfandthe upper sleeve 45 is;

at first prevented by an upper shear ring 57 disposed within a peripheral groove 58 in the shifting sleeve head and defined between said head and the upperend of the upper'sleeve valve This ring-57 is' split, to enable a tobe.mountedl within 'tlie groove 58', and has its inner portion 57a'wit h a diameter nogreater than the internal '7 'diam eterfof'the tuhularmember wall 201 Arrouter pop valve-itself still. covering the lower seal ring26. By" I virtueof this arrangement, any fluids or fluent materials" that are pumped through" the side ports 21 cannotaet upon the sealring 26 and possiblydamage it or flush it tion"57li ihtegralftherewitli, which is relatively thin V andfwhijch 1's disposed within an internafcircumferential groove 59in the tubular membef'll). This outer" porinternalf'gro'ove and can be" sheared firbm thefrinner pornes- 57a when alsulfieient downward force is imposed; on the upper. shifting sleeve 54; which will then allow ;.theshifting sleeve 54, inner portion 57 .of' the shear out of ;the groove 27, whereupon it would be unavailable 7 1 fol-subsequent sealing purposes; Thestop ring '43 is also a shear ring, and is preferably of such thickness and typeofgr'naterial as 'to shear at a: substantially higher pressure.

g ring, and upper sleeve' valve 45 to' movefdownwardly within the tubular member Preferably, a dirt oi" V Forthepurposfe of shifting the upper sleeve valve 45- do'wriwardly to portclosing position, anupper shiftingsleeve 54 fits snugly withiri'thempper sleeve valve 45;. -.liaving-' an external diameter corresponding to the inter.-

naldiameter'o'f the uppersle'eve valve. The upper head tially decreased during its downward movement.

tubular memberltl to sealingly engage the periphery of the head 55, to prevent foreign materials from possibly being deposited around the head, which might bind it and interfere with its downward movement. To equalize the pressures internally and externally of the shifting sleeve 54, so as to avoid any pressure dilferentials thereacross that might tend to deform the sleeve, a bleeder hole 63 is provided through the shifting sleeve immediately below the head 55, which establishes communicationbetween the internal and external surfaces of the shifting sleeve.

The upper shifting sleeve 54 has a central passage 64 therethrough, the inner wall of the upper shifting sleeve having two main internal diameters 65, 66, the lower diameter 66 being greater than the internal diameter 39 through the lower shifting sleeve'33. The upper shifting sleeve has an upper internal diameter 65 which is substantially greater than the lower internal diameter 66, to provide an upwardly facing shoulder or seat 67 in the upper shifting sleeve for the reception of an upper plug 68, such as a top cementing plug, which is adapted to seat within the upper shifting sleeve 54 andenable pressure to be applied to the fluid in the casing string thereabove of suffic'ient value to shear the outer shearing portion 57b of ring 57 from the inner shearing portion 57a and shift theupper shifting sleeve 54 and the upper sleeve valve 45 downwardly within the tubular member to a position in which the upper sleeve valve is disposed completely across the side ports 21, to close the same. Actually, the downward shifting will at first occur only to the extent at which the upper sleeve valve 45 engages the upper'end of the lower sleeve valve 22, after the latter has been shifted to port opening position, rest ing upon the lower split stop and shear ring 43. When this occurs, the subjecting of the fluid in the well casing to a'still higher pressure will cause the upper or top cementing plug 68, upper shifting sleeve 54, and upper sleeve valve 45 to exert a downward force on the split stop and shear ring 43, through the agency of the lower sleeve valve 22, shearing the ring 43, which will allow the entire mechanism within the tubular member to shift downwardly as a unit to the extent limited by engagement of the lower sleeve valve 22 with an inwardly directed shoulder 70 provided in the lower portion of the tubular member 10, or limited by engagement of the sheared ring 43 with such shoulder, with the lower sleeve valve 22 resting thereon.

When the parts are in this latter position, the upper sleeve 45 is disposed across the ports 21 in engagement with both the upper and the lower seals 24, 26,-insuring against leakage of fiuid'through the side ports 21, and with the ratchet ring 49 engaging the companion teeth 51 in the tubular member to prevent upward or return movement of the upper sleeve valve. Thus, the upper sleeve valve 45 cannot be shifted upwardly to port opening position, its downward movement being prevented by engagement with the lower sleeve valve 22 and the engagement of the latter with the sheared ring 43, which is, in turn, resting upon the upwardly directed shoulder '70 of the tubular member 10. V

In order to minimize frictional resistance to movement -of the lower sleeve valve 22 in a downward direction, the portion 71 of the tubular member 10 below the groove 31 receiving the shear ring 28-is recessed or enlarg'ed in diameter along a substantial portion of its length and abovethe location of the stop and shear ring 43,. so that the surface of contact between the lower sleeve valve 22 and tubular member 10 will be substan- Similarly, another enlarged circumferential recess 72 is provided in the tubular member below the location of the stop and shear ring 43,-enabling the lower sleeve to shift idownwardly with a lesser frictional resistance to movement. As the inner portion. 28a of the lower shear ring 28, comes opposite the recessed-portions 71 or 72 of the -member 10, it 'will remain adhered to the lower sleeve valve 22, in view of the fact that the split'shear ring 28 is inherently contractible and tends to grip the base of the recessed portion 29 of the lower sleeve. valve, the gripping action beingenhanced by the serrating or roughening of the surface 30 of the split ring.

The upper and lower sleeve valves 45, 22 are made of steel, to remain permanently in the tubular member 10. Their internal diameters are no less than and preferably greater than the internal diameter through the casing string B, C. However, the upper and lower shifting sleeves 54, 33 have internal diameters substantially less than the normal internal diameter through the case ing sections themselves, extending inwardly thereof to some extent. internal diameter portions 66, 39, 40 of the uppershifting sleeve 54 and of the lower shifting sleeve 33. The shifting sleeves are preferably made of readily drillable material, such as magnesium, aluminum or cast iron, in order that such portions may be disintegrated and flushed from the well casing by a drill bit (not shown) after the cementing operation has been completed, including the operation of shifting the upper sleeve 45 to a fully closed position across the side ports 21, and the harden-.- ing of the cement slurry puinped through the side port's.

To facilitate the drilling out ofthe shiftable sleeves 54, 33, their rotation is prevented. Thus, the lower portion of the lower shifting sleeve 33 has an outwardly extend.- ing flange and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial slots81 providing lugs 82 adapted to engage conrpanion keys 83 receivedyin longitudinal'keyways 84 in the tubular member, the: keys being brazed within such keyways' and extending upwardly above the shoulder 70 of the tubular member. Suchengagement will key or lock the lower shifting sleeve 33 to the tubular member against rotation. Similarly, the lower portion 'of the uppper shifting sleeve 54 is provided with circumferential radial slots 85 thereacross adapted to receive upwardly extending lugs or keys 86 provided at the upper portion of the lower shifting sleeve 33. When the lower shifting sleeve 33 and lower sleeve valve 22 occupy their lowermost position in the tubular member, with the lugs 82 in engagement with the keys 83 fixed to the tubular member, and following the shifting of the upper shifting sleeve 54 and upper sleeve valve member 45 to their final lower position, the upper lugs or keys 86 of the lower shifting sleeve will be received in the slots 85 in tha upper shifting sleeve 54, the lower shifting sleeve thereby preventing rotation of the upper shifting'sleeve. In this manner, both shifting sleeves 54', 33 are prevented frorn rotating, allowing a drill bit to turn relative to them and effect their ready'disintegration. P

1 In the use of the apparatus A, it is connected atthe proper location in the casing string, attaching the upper and lower casing sections B, C in spaced relation. Initially, the upper sleeve valve 45 and upper shifting sleeve 54 occupy their uppermost positions, with the upper shear ring 57 disposed in the companion groove 59 in the tubular member 10, the lower shifting sleeve 33 and lower sleeve valve 22 being disposed in their uppermost positions, with the lower shear ring 28 disposed in its con panion groove 31 in the tubular member. At this time, the stop and shear ring 43 is intact within its groove 44 in the tubular member (Figs. 1 and 5 The string of well casing is run in the well bore to the desired settingpoint, after which it is usual to properly condition the well and then pump a first charge of cement slurry down the casing string, such cement slurry and cementing plugs, if such are used, passing through thepassages .64, 38 in the shifting sleeves 54, 33 without moving the latter, and the cement slurry being discharged through the casing shoe, or other point in the casing string below the collar A. The cement slurry will pass upwardly around the casing string toward the collar, and may, in fact, rise abovethe closed side ports 21 in the tubular member;

This is particularly true of the smaller 7 i in Following the pumpingof the cement slurryfout of theeasing tOJPPfGI m the lower cementing operation, a cementin'g :plug '42, or tripping member, is dropped down the casingstring ggravitating through the fluid in the well casingand zpassingzfreely'throughthe; upper shifting sleeve 54, coming to rest upon the shoulder -41 of thelower shifting sleeve 33 and =in sealing engagement therewith. Thepressur'e of the fluidiin the well casing can now be increased, such ,pressnresacting upon the plower plug "42, lower-shiftihgsleeve 33,and lowersleeve 22,:and when it reaches a su'flicient value to shear the inner portion 28:: of thedowershear ring 28 from its outer portion 2815,

the lower tplu g, lower shifting 'sleeveand lower sleeve valve are'inoved downwardly to the extent limited by en- -28 with the split stop and shear ring 43 (Fig. '2). At

this time, the-Lside :ports21 will be open, with the upper 7 end of the sleeve valve 22 disposed therebelow and with its upper portionstill disposed across the lower seal ring 24 to protect the same. i

l Circulatingfluid may now be pumped down the casing string passing outwardly through the open side ports '21 to .wash any ceme'nt' slurry therearound from the vlower stage cementing operation upwardly toward the top of the well bore. After-thewell bore has been properly coni ditioned, the required'charge of cement slurry is pumped down the casing, passing out through thesidepor'ts .21 and then upwardly around the casing string. Such charge of cement slurry usually carries a top cementing plug 68,

-at-its upperend to separate it from the displacement fluid the'reabove, -this cementing plug being appropriately di mensioned as-to pass within the upper shifting sleeve 54 and coming to rest upon the shoulder 67 ofsaid shifting sleeve, with appropriate seals 90 engaging the'inner wall =65of the shifting sleeve to fullyclose the passage 64 therethrough. With the :plug 68en'ga'ging the shoulder 67,

the pressure of the fluid above the plug "can-be increased, this pressure being exerted downwardly on 'theplug, as

well as on the upper'shifting sl ee'vei'54. When it reach'es' a value exceeding the shear strength of the outer p'ortion 57b of'pthe upper shear ring 57, the outer portion is sheared from the inner portion '57a, whereupon the upper cementingrplug 68, upper shifting sleeve 54 and-upper sleeve value 45 will-move downwardly to the extentlimited by engagement of the upper sleeve valve 45 with the Iower sleevevalve22 (-Fig. 3). During this time, the ratchet ring 49'can 'ratchet'freely in a'd'ownward direction over the ratchet teeth 51 of the tubular member 10. After the uppersleeve valve -45 engages the lower sleeve valve 22, the fluid pressure is increased until the shear strength of the stop-ring-43 is exceeded, which shears the inner portion of the latter from its outer portion, allowing the upper plug 68, upper shifting sleeve 54,- and upper sleeve 'valve 45 to move downwardly as a unit, pushing the lower plug 42, lower shifting sleeve 33, and lower sleevevalve 22 ahead of it until the lower sleeve valve 22 engages the inner portion of the =split'shear ring=43, which is now V resting upon the'tubular-member shoulder 70, with the lugs-82 "in ;a*position to'engage 'theiteeth or keys 83. At

this time'also, the upper lugs or keys 86 of the lower' 'shiftin'gsleeve are received within the radial slots -'8 5"in the 'up'pershiftin'g"sleeve 54 to engage the latter sleeve "ti'nd prevent'its'rotanen (Fig. 5).

V "Du'ri'n'g 'the downward movement ofthe various-'elearena in the tubular member 10 "to'their final position,

the iippersl'eeve valve 45 "moves completely'across the i'siue ert's 2'1 and acressf'theflower seal ring 26, being simultaneously engagedwith the seal rings 24, 26 on oppositeside's'b eside'purts,'preventin leakage between the'tuburar'menmer 10 and theupper sleeve'valvc 45 in both longitudinaldirections. The ratchet ring 49, ratchets rreeiy'uver the "teeth 51 "of the "tubular 'men'iber during thed'o aid shifting ofthe upper sleeve valve 45 to its heal 'pbs'iticin lnawev'ea sea ratehet ring will prevent j gagementof the innerportion 28a of the lower shear ring i 7 upon them.

upward or return movement of the sleeve 45 strain {its closedvposition completely acrossv the side ports 21.

- Following the hardeningof the cement that has been 7 forced out through the side ports 21, the portions of :the apparatus extending inwardly of the casing string may be disintegrated hy a drill bit. To facilitate this opera-.

tion, the. upper andilower cementing plugs 68, 42 are preferably made of readilyydrillable material, and this factor, coupled with the making of the upper fandlower shifting sleeves 54, 33 of readily drillable material, enables the drill bit to disintegrate substantiallyall of the mechanism inwardly. of the upper and lower sleeve valves 45, 22, to leave the wellcasing-in a free and unobstructed j condition. The engagement of the lugs 82 with the-keys 83 prevents rotation of thelower shifting sleeve 33,,where as the engagement of the upper lugs or ,keys 86 with theupper shifting sleeve 54 prevents rotation of the latter under the action of the drill bit, s'o as not to impede the progress of the latter in disintegrating the internal mechanism; 1 The internal diameters of the upper and lower sleeve valves :45, 22, however, are such as to be substantially untouched by the drill bit, which, cannot operate It is tobe noted that the upper sleeve valve 45 en fgages the lower sleeve valve '22 before the upper sleeve valve moves into sealing relation to the lowerseal ring 26, and that the upper sleeve valve 45 and lower sleeve valve22, together with theshiftingsleeves 54, 22 and the plugs, 68, 42 within the latter, move downwardly as a unit as the upper sleeve valve 45 is being shifted to its 'final, closed position-across the side ports21. Anydiquid f or fluid entrapped within the sleeves and between the upper and lower; cementing plugs 68, 42 are, therefore, moved downwardly as a unit with the downwardly moveing' parts withinthe tubular member 10, avoiding the "necessity for compressing such inassotliquid, or fluid.

Ordinarily, the fluid in the wall casing below thedlower plug 42 and lower sleeve valve 22 must lie-compressed to some extent, but, usually, the length of the fluid column in the apparatus below the apparatus A is so great that the required amount of compression can occur without difiicultyand without requiring substantial pressures for the downward shifting of the sleeves 45, 22 to their final positions. It is, accordingly, evident that by stopping the lower sleeve valve 22 in an intermediate ,port vopening position, and then shifting it downwardly toits final position under the action ofthe upper sleeve valve 45, the necessity for :shifting'the upper sleeve valve toward the lower sleeve valve is avoided, which also obviates the necessity for compressing any trapped fluid between the upper and lower plugs 68, 42.,

V The shoulders 67, 41 an which the upper and-lower plugs 68, 42 come .to rest are disposed .a substantial distance below the upper ends of the upper and lower shifting sleeves 54, 33, and the inner walls 65, 39 of the shiftingsleeves above the shoulders are cylindrical, which insures appropriate sealing engagement- 0f the sealing denot essential that theupper sleeve valve beshifted downwardly to the maximum-extent. If, .for some reason, the upper sleeve valve 45 cannot The shifted downwardly to -such a maximum extent, it will still tremain in closed position across, the side; ports :21, in sealing engagement with both the upper andlower seals;.24, 26,, the ratchet ring 49jpreventin'g upward or ,return movement of the upper sleeve valve 45 from the lowermost position to which it may have -been shifted, althoughsuch lowermost position-1s notthe maximum position to which it could be shifted "within the designfllimits of the apparatus.

, '-,,i Whatever the final posit ionwofrest of the upper sleeve valve 45, it will completely close the side ports 21 and prevent leakage therethrough, so long as it simultaneous ly engages the seals 24, 26 on opposite sides of theside ports. t

The shear ring'arr'angement 28, 57 employed in the present case avoids the necessity for providing threaded holes, or the like, in the tubular-member 10, such as occurs when shear pins or shear screws are used! Such holes are sometimes the source of undesired fluid leakage between the interior and exteriorof the casing during the life of the Well." The'only passages provided through the tubular member with the present cementing apparatus are the side ports 21 themselves, and these are completely and permanently closed by'the upper sleeve valve 45 'at the end of the well cementing opera-- tion.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string to be disposed in a. well bore, said member having a side port; a lowersleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said lower sleeve'valve member across said port to close the same, said valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly to port opening position; seal means on said tubular member below said port and engaging saidvalve member; an upper sleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said upper sleeve valve member above said port, said upper sleeve valve member,

when released, being slidable downwardly to a position across said port and said seal means; releasable stop means engageable by said lower valve member to limit its downward movement to a position in which said port is open and said lower valve member remains engaged with said seal means; said lower valve member 'being shiftable below said seal means and said upper valve member being movable to close said port and into sealing engagement with said seal means upon release of said stop means.

2. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, said member having a side port; a lower sleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said lower sleeve valve member across said port to close the same, said -valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly to port opening position; seal means on said tubular member below said port and engaging said valve member; releasable stop means engageable by said valve member to limit its downward movement to a position in which said port is open and said valve member remains engaged with said seal means; an upper sleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said upper sleeve valve member above said port, said upper sleeve valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly into engagement with said lower valve member when said lower valve member is in engagement with said stop means; and means for imposing a downward force on said upper valve member and through said lower valve member to release said releasable stop means and shift said lower valve member below said seal means and to shift said upper valve member into sealing engagement'with said seal means to close said port.

3. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, said member having a side port;

a lower sleeve valve member in said tubular member;

releasable means initially retaining said lower sleeve valve member across said port to close the same, said valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly to port opening position; seal means on said tubular member below said port and engaging said valve member; an upper sleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said upper sleeve valve asset-7a member above said port, said upper sleeve valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly to a position across said port and seal means; frangible stop means engageable by said lower valve member to limit its down ward movement to a position in which said-port is'ppen and said lower valve member remains engaged w'ith sa'id seal means; and means for exerting a downward force on said upper and lower valve members to disrupt said i frangible stop means and shift said lower valve member below said seal means and to move said upper valve mem- 1 ber into sealing engagement with said seal means to close said port. H

4."In apparatus of the character described: 'a tubular i member adapted to form part of a conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, said member having a side port; a lower sleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said lower sleeve valve member across said port to close thesame, said valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly to port opening position; seal means on said tubular mem ber below said port and. engaging said valve member; an upper sleeve valve member in said tubular member; releasable means initially retaining said upper sleeve valve member above said port, said upper sleeve valve member, when released, being slidable downwardly to a position across said port and said seal means; a frangible ring secured to said tubular member and engageable by said lower valve member to limit its downward movement to a position in which said port is open and said lower valve member remains engaged with said seal means; and means for exerting a downward force on said upper and lower valve members to disrupt said frangible ring and shift said lower valve member below said seal means and to move said upper valve member into sealing engagement with said seal means to close said port.

5. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, said member having a side port; a lower sleeve valve member in said tubular member; a first frangible ring engaging said valve member and tubular member to locate said valve member across said port to close the same; seal means on said tubular member below said port and engaging said valve member; a

second frangible ring secured to said tubular member and engageable with said valve member to limit its downward movement to a position in which said port is open and said valve member remains engaged with said seal means; an upper sleeve valve member in said tubular member; a third frangible ring engaging said upper valve member and tubular member to locate said upper valve member above said port; means for imposing a downward force on said lower valve member to disrupt said first frangible ring and shift said lower valve member downwardly into engagement with said second frangible ring; and means for exerting a downward force on said upper valve member to disrupt said third frangible ring and shift said upper valve member to a position across said port and in engagement with said lower valve member, said lastmentioned means being adapted to then exert a downward force on said upper and lower valve members to disrupt said second frangible ring and shift said lower valve member below said seal means and move said upper valve member into sealing engagement with said seal means to close said port.

6. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string to be disposed in a well bore, said member having a side port; a lower sleeve valve member in said tubular member disposed initially across said port to close the same; a readily drillable lower shifting sleeve within and coupled to said sleeve valve, said lower shifting sleeve having a substantially cylindrical central bore terminating at an inwardly directed shoulder against which a plug can seat to close the passage through said shifting sleeve; an upper sleeve valve member in said tubular member disposed initially bore terminating "at an inwardly directed shoulder a'gain'st whieh ajlug canseat to "close the passage throughfsaid Alp p61 shifting sleeve, the passage through .seiiil-unper s'hiftingsleeve having minimum diameter whic hlfis no smaller than the diameter of thesceritra'l bore thlq lg h said lower shifting sleeve; it

maestro :c entr al bore terminatirig at an" inwardly directed shoulder shifting sleeveFh'avinig 'a minimum diameter which is "ab member adapted t6 form parflofaebriihiit string t be' disposed in awell here, said member 'hav'irig 1, side pert;

a lower sleeve'valve member in said tubulafmenibefidis pgsed initially across said port totclosfi th same; ia re arliLy Ydrilleble vlgwer shiftingnsleeve within and teo rpled jtp saiidsleeve valve, said lower shifting .sleeve havingAJ-bstan'tially r ylindriea l .centra'l bore -.terminatix g eranjri-f wardly directed shoulder against which a' plug een seat t9 elo se the pas sage through saids'hifting sleeve; an upper Jsle eve valve member in said tubular memberdispased initially above said port; areadily drillableuppershift'ing sleeve within and coupled to said .upper sleeve valve, said gpper shifting sleeve having a substantially cylindrical smaller than the diameter of the central bore 'tlfroughsa'id lower shifting sleeve; said lower shifting. sleeve-extend in'g along'istihstantially theje'fitire length of :saidjlower sleeve valve fth'e "shoulder therein being rfi'isp'osed in the shifting sleeve extending along 'siibstamially the entire length saidfupperifsleevevalve, the shqlilder -in 's ziiti r p er hifting 'steevebeixrgv disposed *in :the lower iportien thereof. N 1

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